My New Gym Location in the Heart of Chelsea!

Come check out the new gym location I'll be training from in 2012! Complete Body & Spa - 19th St. is conveniently located in the heart of Chelsea at 22 West 19th St. between 5th and 6th Avenues.  I will be offering one-on-one training sessions as well as an exclusive new class only at this location in NYC called ViPR Plus+ Group Training Class, it incorporates ViPR as well as other functional tools such as ropes, kettlebells, medicine balls and much more to give you a well-rounded calorie burning work out.  Space is limited so email me today to receive the upcoming winter class schedule. 


I really like to train at Complete Body & Spa and I know you will too.  They really do have an extensive variety of equipment to fulfill every training need and I was also impressed at how clean everything was kept. 


"Often described as a fitness fanatic and personal trainer’s dream gym – our 19^th St location offers an extensive selection of some of the most revered fitness equipment in the industry. We’ve got it all: hanging heavy bags, weighted sleds, heavy ropes, an extensive cardio line, isometric equipment, one of New York’s premiere free weight collections, and a full selectorized circuit. There’s every tool at our members and trainers disposal to create any dream body imaginable." - Complete Body & Spa


Come check it out for yourself!  Email me at gaelfitnesstrainer@gmail.com and I'll set you up with a free 7-Day pass.  

35 years...35 exercises, classes or events

In celebration of my 35th birthday coming up on 9/13 I've decided to try 35 new exercises, classes or other outdoor physical activities I've never tried before....I'm open for suggestions I'll keep you posted on all my adventures through my training Facebook page at Gael Guevara, CPT

Can you recommend some exercises that burn fat around your waist that aren't sit-ups?

• Can you recommend some exercises that burn fat around your waist that aren't sit-ups? I hurt my tailbone again when I fell in Vegas and it really hurts but still want to work out.

• Gael Guevara Hi Vero! Thanks for your question and I'm sure many people can relate. Especially when you have a lower back or tailbone injury, situps can be very painful. However, the best way to lose a few inches around your waist actually has nothing to do with sit-ups. You can't target a specific area with exercise, genetics will determine from where your body will let go of it first. What you can control is your nutrition and see where you can cut out foods that are high in calories and low nutritional value. Basically in order to lose body fat, you have to burn more calories that you ingest. Include a regular exercise routine to your week and you'll start to increase the number of calories you burn overall.

  
  
• Gael Guevara Also, I would not recommend sit ups for you or any one with a lower back/tailbone injury. Because of the mechanics of a sit up, your spine is going into flexion each and every time you contract your abs so, overtime it can aggravate the vertebrae and disc in your spine, leading to further injury and keeping you away from doing any exercise at all. Its also not a very functional exercise. Meaning that we often don't go around actively flexing our spine (crunching) when doing every day things like brushing our teeth.

• Sit ups are for the most part aesthetic, done by body builders to build those coveted six pack abs. However, they probably are also under really strict diets to lower their body fat % to extreme numbers and if they are smart they are also working their back muscles just as intensely.
  

• Your "abs" are part of a bundle of muscles that make up your trunk and work to keep your spine from going into excessive flexion or extension. Some of the exercises that focus on the functionality of your trunk and help to strengthening it include; planks, side planks, kneeling/standing chops, back extensions, mountain climbers, shoulder taps, push ups, squats deadlifts, lunges, pull ups....as you can see your trunk(abs) is working anytime you engage your whole body so when selecting exercises, choose those that engage multiple muscle groups and you'll be sure to hit your trunk, core and abs too. Thanks again for your question! I'll post it on my blog for all to share. Keep the questions coming! :)

ViPR ready for 2011

Vitality, Performance and Re-conditioning

It's a new year, a new you and a new kind of workout! Over the past few weeks since the new year, I started implementing ViPR with my clients. ViPR stands for vitality, performance and re-conditioning and is grounded on the idea that our bodies should be trained as a whole and in a more functional way to achieve proper balance and transferability of exercise into everyday life and sport. Its an exercise tool that offers a lot new options that weren't possible before with just a dumbell or a barbell. You can also implement some of the hardcore moves you can do with kettlebells without the fear a cast iron mass of weight to fall on your head. ViPR is made out of rubber and they have different weight so you can switch them up easily. As for my own workouts, it has been a great way to implement cardio into my routine without spending countless hours on a boring treadmill. Overall, I think its a great tool if used with proper technique. It you are ready to work and improve your overall conditioning, coordination and balance this one is for you! Come out to Equinox 17th St. for a complimentary session.